Resume Tips

Here is a simple way to organize
your thoughts and assemble basic information about your work history. It is of
utmost importance that you include the scope of your responsibility for each of
your jobs, as outlined below. The enclosed sample resume is for a human
resources professional but can easily be adapted for any profession.
Header:
At the top of the first page:
Name, followed by certification (SPHR, PHR), home address, preferred phone
number (just one), and personal e-mail address.
It’s highly recommended you use an e-mail address that matches your
name. Never use your business e-mail
address or business phone number on your resume.

For each EMPLOYER include

Company name and location (city, state)

Dates employed (format in month and year—for example,
May, 2004)

What the company does (product or service)

Company statistics (annual sales, number of branches or
plants, domestic or international locations, etc.)

Number of employees (total employees and/or the number
at this location) Note: this is very important because it is the
key to define the scope of your responsibilities.

Job description. This is the most important information
you will provide to the reader. The easiest way to think about what to put
in this section is to separate your job responsibilities away from
projects and accomplishments—those will be included next. Think about how
you spend 75% of your work day or week and include those things here. It’s
not important to include something that you only do periodically.

Title of immediate superior

Number of subordinates managed

List PROJECTS and ACCOMPLISHMENTSInclude one sentence descriptions of
significant:

projects (distinguish from responsibilities)

teams you participated on

awards you received

quantify savings you were able to achieve

note statistics you assisted in improving (for example,
turnover, absenteeism, large number of hires in a period)

List recent involvement with professional associations
and note any participation with committees or boards.

If you are just out of college, put education first,
otherwise it goes at the end of your professional experience.

OPTIONAL

An objective section at the top of the resume —this
statement is often phrased with “canned” words. For example, “seeking a
challenging position with a growth oriented company.” It is recommended
that you omit an objective statement unless your experience is very
diverse and you want a job that focuses on just one area of interest.

Only include your GPA from college if it was
exceptionally high (3.5 or above). After a few years of experience GPA
should be dropped but continue to list your academic honors.

List training classes or seminars on a separate sheet.
If you have attended a program relevant to your next job, perhaps include
it a bullet under accomplishments and projects.

Since a resume cannot possibly describe all of your
work history, keep a separate list of information about your work
experience. Write brief paragraphs describing the items and your specific
involvement. If you keep this updated it is an excellent tool to preparing
for an employment interviews.

Leisure activities and hobbies—I like these items
listed at the end of a resume. I use them often as ice breakers to start a
face to face interview.

Omit “References Available Upon Request.” We presume
they are.

ALWAYS

If you send your resume via e-mail, use a Word document or PDF. Special resume formats do not
universally convert.

Check your document for spelling and grammar
errors—don't rely on spell check. Have other people read it or proofread
it backwards.

If you have more than two years of work experience,
keep your resume on two pages. One page if your experience is less than
two years.

On the top of page two, repeat your name and include
the page number

Include graduation honors If you received Magna, Summa
or Cum Laude.

NEVER

Never use your work phone number or e-mail address at
the top of the resume. Instead, get an e-mail address from a free service
(for example, yourname98@hotmail.com).

There is no standard format for resumes. I believe the above
chronological style format is logical and designed to highlight your experience
in a format that is easy to understand. Remember, the final product should be a
document that accurately represents you and you can be proud of.